SURKHET, Nov 16: Karnali zone is facing a problem in supplies delivery as three of the six choppers that were taking supplies to the zone have been damaged in accidents. Locals are worried that in absence of adequate air transport, the zone may not receive supplies on time.
According to cargo operators, there are 100 trips of supplies meant for Karnali waiting to be picked up at Surkhet airport. The choppers carry 38 quintals of supplies in each trip.
After a Manang Air chopper was damaged in an accident Sunday in Humla, only three choppers remain for taking supplies to Karnali. All the three choppers in operation now belong to Shree Air.
On August 26, a stationary Simrik Air chopper was hit by a Shree Air chopper while landing, damaging both. The choppers were also taking supplies to Karnali before being damaged in the accident, and have not come back into operation yet.
The dip in the number of choppers in operation has hit supplies to the zone that was already short in supplies when all the six choppers were operating.
“Customers in the zone are demanding that the supplies be delivered quickly. But we have this situation here,” said Sher Bahadur BK of BB Air Cargo. He added that some 20 trips of supplies that his firm is supposed to deliver to various districts in the zone have not been picked up for the past one month in the lack of flights. Of them, five trips of supplies have materials that have to be urgently delivered to construct bridges.
Similarly, Krishna Shrestha of Himali Cargo said he has not been able to deliver construction materials to Humla, and goods to Mugu.
“Even when all the choppers were in operation, they preferred to deliver food rather than other materials. Now it is even more difficult to deliver construction materials,” he said.
Choppers are a must for successfully completing development projects undertaken by the government and non-governmental organizations in Karnali zone.
“Unlike food, materials meant for setting up drinking water supply system, building bridges and setting up power plants cannot be taken to the villages on mules,” said Shyamjor Aidi, an employee at the District Development Committee, Humla.
Probe committee starts work
A probe committee formed by the government to look into Sunday´s Manang Air chopper crash in Rudikot, Humla, started its work on Monday by inspecting the accident site.
The five-member committee that is being coordinated by senior pilot Pramod Lama of the Nepal Army reached Rudikot and returned to Kathmandu on Monday.
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